Cubs won't wait if they need to play Castro

Cubs GM Jim Hendry and manager Lou Piniella are going far out of their way to let us know that Starlin Castro can't possibly start the season in Chicago.

In the last few days, both have said Castro will go to Iowa (AAA) when the Cubs begin the regular season.

What they're saying makes sense and they're approach is right on.

And, of course, it means precisely nothing.

They're taking pressure off the kid and making Ryan Theriot comfortable, but if they see nothing at second base from Mike Fontenot or Jeff Baker the next couple weeks, and Castro plays well and hits, they'll have no choice but to bring him to Chicago.

The White Sox didn't want to start the clock on Gordon Beckham's service time last year, so they waited to promote him, but the Cubs are in no position to do the same with Castro if it's obvious on April 1 that a Castro at short/Theriot at second combo is their best chance to win in 2010.

Unlike the Sox last year, when they were able to bide their time while Beckham played in the minors, the Cubs have no such luxury because they must get out of the gate quickly.

It's not what they want to do and it's not the ideal situation, throwing a 20-year-old into the Chicago fire, but they might not have a choice.

In a perfect world, Castro - who turns 20 on March 24 - would get several hundred at-bats at Iowa this year, perhaps even an entire season.

This would hardly be the first time you've seen a manager or GM insist during spring training that a young player can't make the major-league roster, only to turn around and put the guy on the major-league roster.

To say anything else at this point would create a huge distraction for Theriot and unnecessarily place a ton of heat on the kid.

So we wait and watch to see how Castro plays, and wonder if they have anyone at second who can do the job.

Stay tuned.

Ivan Boldirev-ingClassic NHL timing with the decision not to suspend Penguins winger Matt Cooke on the same day the GMs recommend new guidelines for hits to the head next year that might include ejections and suspensions.Cooke knocked out Boston's Marc Savard on Sunday with a vicious blindside hit after he released a shot, with a clear intent to injure. Savard has a Grade 2 concussion and may be done for the year.League disciplinarian Colin Campbell said that since he didn't suspend the Flyers' Mike Richards for a similar hit on the Panthers' David Booth earlier this season - after which Booth missed three months - he couldn't suspend Cooke.In other words, since Campbell blew it the first time, he had to make the same mistake again? Brilliant.The good guysEven with Atlanta promoting Chris Chelios on Wednesday, the first 5,000 fans at the Chicago Wolves game Saturday (7 p.m.) will receive a Chris Chelios Wall Cling. For more info, visit chicagowolves.com.Big beastIf you're not watching the Big East tournament, you're missing something special.The show at Madison Square Garden is proving - as it always does - to be the best college basketball of the year.Make me laughA few of David Letterman's Top Ten Things You Don't Want To Hear From A Guy In Your Bobsled:"Somebody else steer, I'm Twittering.""We're lost.""Did something seem off with the shrimp salad at lunch?"Bottoms upJeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, on Julius Peppers buying champagne for patrons at a Chicago nightclub: "This memory will linger for several months with Bears fans, or at least until Peppers misses a tackle against Adrian Peterson."Out of the roughComedian Alex Kaseberg: "Tiger Woods is back home in Florida and is reportedly practicing golf all day. Got that, guys? Tiger's punishment for sleeping with a lot of hot women is he has to play golf all day. Exactly where did the rest of us go so horribly wrong?''Tweet thisMiami Herald's Greg Cote: "Jose Canseco said on his Twitter site that his fans may spend a day with him for only $1,000. Heck, I would pay twice that to not spend a day with him.''Best headlineSportspickle.com: "Aroldis Chapman hits 100 mph, given Cy Young Award."And finally -S.F. Chronicle's Scott Ostler: "The rift between Mark McGwire and his brother Jay stems from an incident where Mark swatted the behind of Jay's stepson after the lad tickled Mark and caused him to spill coffee. Mark admits the incident, but insists steroids didn't boost his spanking power."brozner@dailyherald.comFalse20001500Bruce Miles/bmiles@dailyherald.comCubs prospect Starlin Castro waits for his turn to bat, and Cubs fans are anxious to see if he'll make the big club this season after a rapid rise in the minors. False